Apr. 28—HENDERSON — Workers at an Ardagh Group plant at 620 Facet Road just outside Henderson demonstrated outside the plant in a "show of solidarity" amid union contract negotiations between the company and United Steelworkers Local 222M, which represents those workers.
"We're just going through negotiations with the company, with Ardagh Group," local Vice President Alexander White said, "and we're fighting for a fair contract."
White and others, including recording secretary Audrey Williams, wore red shirts and held signs that read, "Essential workers deserve a fair contract." Drivers passing the union members along Facet showed their support by honking.
"Anyone can't just go in our plant and do the jobs that we do," Williams said.
"We actually are trained to do our specific jobs. Not anyone off the street can come in and do it."
Ardagh has a contract with Local 222M that expired this year. Negotiations for a new contract started in Texas last month. Williams, the local's recording secretary, said leadership had to walk out of negotiations because Ardagh "was not giving us a fair contract."
Williams said Ardagh is trying to "take away our holiday pay, raise our insurance premiums and raise our deductibles. They are not offering a substantial raise for the actual jobs we do."
"We won't stand for it. We are prepared to strike," Tricia Perry said. "We got to do what we have to do to survive. It's called survival. Our friends, family and loved ones need us and this county needs us."
Perry said she is the lone mechanic at the plant. She repairs the equipment necessary to manufacture glass goods.
"We were essential workers when we were going through COVID," she said. "We're essential workers now. Pay us like that."
"We're out here standing in solidarity, trying to show support for our union and let the company we mean business," Lead Furnace Operator Justin Burr said. "They're trying to take away some of the things that make this job what it is and we're not gonna stand for it."
Local 55 represents mold makers, who create the molds used in the manufacture of glass goods. Members of that local attended to show "support for our brothers and sisters at Local 222," as member Jim Rotello said.
"Our contract is due at the end of August," Rotello said. "If things go south for us, we hope we get the same support."
"Our contract is up this year too," Local 55 President Shane Ferguson said. "We're out here in support of our brothers and sisters for a fair contract."